Article of furniture and hoisting and transporting device therefor



PIVOVAROFF' ARTICLE OF FURNITURE AND HOISTING May 22, 1951 w,

AND TRANSPORTING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed April 1, 1949 INVENTOR. WILLMM PwovARoFF My M TTOR N ENS Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED TENT FjFl jCE narrow or .E RNITU AND HOISTING D BQE EV- THEREFOR William Pivovarofi, Fresno, Calif. igpplieatio prill, 1948, Serial No. 84,779

.suppor an ar thusnra tica11y immobile. ,sl

ins o the furniture is i u us to floors rues.

,andcarpeting and is at best thoroughly inconvenient. It frequently is desirable to move;heavy pieces .of furniture for house ,.cleaning or .rear- .rangement purposes but inasmuch .as they are .so cumbersome, .the housewife is reluctant :-to

move them .or does so only with considerable difiiculty. Not only are these difficulties the .sourcesof domestic inconvenience but frequently obviate thorough 'household cleaning and dusting operations.

An object of the inventionis, therefore'topro- --vide a device for shifting or transporting furniture or the like in'a simple, convenient, and eX- peditious manner.

Another object is to provide adjustable elevational and mobile support for heavy furniture and like articles.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described integrally with the furniture to be elevated and/or transported.

Another object is to provide a device permanently attachedto a piece of furniture for'optionally supportin the furniture on rotatablefcasters or wheels for transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which isc'o'ncealed when not in use.

Another object is to provide such a device for hoisting and transporting furniture that ,iseasily and quickly operable from concealed contrbl means.

A further object is to provide a combined household furniture and an optionally employed elevating and transporting apparatus.

Still further objects are to provide im ioved elements and arrangements thereof in a'device of the character set forth that is durable; economical, dependable, and fully effective in its intended operation.

Other objects and advantages willbecome apparentinthe subsequent description in thespecification.

-2 In the drawing: Fig. .1 is a vertical sectional View through an upholstered lounge chair provided with affurniture elevating and transporting device of the present invention.

Fig. '2 is anenlarged horizontal sectional view through the frame or deck of the lounge chair with the elev ting and transporting device attached thereto shown in top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a perspective'view of the hoisting and transporting device with the frame of the lounge chair shown in phantom by the means of dash lines in relative and attached position to the device of the present invention.

,Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional viewthrough cross pieces of the relatively movableframes of the transporting device showing the screw construction for imparting rela- .tive movement thereto. 20

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view also through the cross pieces of the relatively movable frames showing the means for maintaining the frames-in fixed rotativerelation relative to each other.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings and particularly to Fig. ,1, the hoisting and transporting device of the present invention, jindiflcate dlgenerally by the reference numeral I0,

isa dap ted to be attached in a concealed-position within a piece of furniture, indicated by the refe'rence numeral 1! and shown in the form of an upholstered lounge chair. The piece of furniture may also be ,in the form of a sofa, davenport, or

other desired piece.

The chair is provided with a base or deck l2 which, in part, comprises a rectangular frame .I 3- .constructed of pairs of horizontally positioned, parallel side members L4. These side members 14 usually are of Wood construction and are's'up- The base or coveredsprings it which yieldably support the usual removable .seat cushion or pillow 59 of the furniture. It is tobe understood that the device is not ,limited to the type of furniture shown but may zb'eemployed with any desired typewithout departing fromthe spirit or scopeof the pres- .e'nt invention.

" The hoisting and transporting device .lflis provided with a f xed rigidfrarne ZZLattachedto the funiture and a base member 23 relatively vertically movable to the fixed frame 22. The fixed frame 22 is made substantially in the form of a horizontal H member having a pair of horizontally extending parallel elements 25 conveniently formed of angle iron. The elements 25 are interconnected by means of a cross channel member 23 secured at its ends by any convenient manner, as by welding to a mid point of each of the angle members. The fixed frame 22 is attached interiorly of the frame l3 of the furniture by L shaped brackets 21 securely attached, as by rivets 23, to the outer ends of each of the angle elements 25. Each of the brackets 21 is attached to opposite parallel side members 14 of the frame l3 of the furniture b screws 29 passed through the brackets and engaged in the frame members 14. The fixed frame 22 is mounted in this manner in an upper portion of the frame 13 closely adjacent the underside of the springs l8 of the furniture and in a horizontal position with a space thereunder for the vertically movable base member 23.

Th horizontally positioned, vertically movable base member 23 is preferably of a shape complementary to the frame l3 of the lounge chair or other furniture and of a smaller size to be received within the frame I3 below the fixed frame 22. The base member 23 is formed of two pairs of parallel sides 32, of angle iron or other suitable material connected at their ends in right angular relation with a channel beam 33 extending between opposite parallel sides and secured thereto. A triangular gusset plate 34, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured across the corners of the sides of the base member 23 t impart desired strength thereto. A caster 35 is attached to the underside of each of the gussets for depending swivel movement to provide support and portability for the furniture on lowering of the base member 23 relative to the furniture.

The means for raising and lowering the base member 23 relative to the fixed frame 22 comprises a block 38 welded or otherwise secured internally and centrally of the beam 33 of the base member medially of the length of the beam. An externall threaded screw 39 is turned to a reduced diameter at 49 at its lower end providing a shoulder 4| between the reduced portion and the screw. The reduced portion 49 of the screw 39 extends downwardly through a cylindrical opening 92 in the block 38. A castellated nut 43 is screwed on the lower end of the reduced portion of the screw 39 with washers 44 located between the shoulder 4! of the screw and the upper side of the block 38 and between the upper side of the castellated nut 43 and the underside of the beam 33. Thus the lower end of the screw 39 is rotatably supported in the channel member 33 and is held in fixed elevational relation thereto by means of the washers 44 and the castellated nut 43.

A metallic block 45 is secured internall of the channel member 26 of the upper fixed frame 22 medially of its length and a tapped opening 46 is formed vertically through the block and the screw 39 is threadedly received therein so that on rotative motion imparted to the screw 39 the base member 23 is moved elevationally relative to the fixed frame 22. The screw 39 extends upwardly from the upper fixed frame 22 partially through an opening 47 formed vertically through the covering for the springs [8 of the lounge chair, The upper terminal end of the screw 39 is formed at 48 to square or other polygonal cross section 4 so that the screw may be turned by means of a crank 49. The crank is provided with a socket head 59 with a socket portion of complementary shape to the portion 48 of the screw 39 for driving connection therewith. On removal of the seat cushion 19 from the lounge chair the upper end of the screw 39 is exposed through the opening 41 in the springs of the chair so that the socket head of the crank may be slipped over the upper terminal end of the screw and the screw rotated thereby for raising and lowering the vertical movable base member 23.

Means is provided for holding the vertical movable base member 23 in a fixed rotative position on the screw 39 relative to the fixed upper frame 22 comprising a pair of blocks 5| welded or otherwise secured in the beam 33 of the lower frame 23 at substantially equal radial distances from the screw 39. An aligning pin 52 is seecured to and extended vertically upwardly from each of the blocks 5| and vertically and slidably through openings 53 formed vertically through the channel member 29 of the upper fixed frame 22. As the base member 23 is moved elevationally relative to the upper fixed frame 22, the pins 52 slide through the openings 53 and maintain the upper and lower frames in a fixed rotative position around the elevating screw 39.

Operation The operation and utility of the present invention is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description and is briefly summarized at this point. The hoisting and transporting device is attached to the deck of a lounge chair, sofa of the like and is located internally thereof. The fixed frame 22 is attached to the frame [3 of the furniture and the base member 23 is vertically movable relative thereto. With the base member 23 in raised position, the entire hoisting and transporting device is substantially concealed within the frame of the furniture and in no way afiects its use.

The elevating screw 39 is exposed for operation by use of the crank 49 upon removal of the cushion l9. On rotation of the operating screw 39, the base member 23 may be raised or lowered relative to the upper frame for concealment of the lower frame or for hoisting the furniture on the caster supported base member.

On rotation of the elevating screw 39 to lower the base member 23 the casters come in contact with a supporting floor or other surface and further rotation of the elevating screw in the same direction raises the frame 22 and the furniture attached thereto to an elevated position removed from the floor with the furniture supported entirely on the swivel casters 35. With the furniture thus supported on the casters, it is easily shifted or transported from place to place as desired without scratching floors or scufi'ing rugs or carpets. When the furniture has been moved to the desired new location it may be lowered and supported on its own legs by oppositely rotating the elevating screw 39 by means of the crank 49 until the casters are elevated within the furniture to substantially concealed position within the frame l3 of the furniture.

During vertical movement of the base member 23 relative to the upper frame 22 by rotation of the elevating screw 39 the frames are held relatively in a fixed rotative position by means of the aligning pins 52 attached to the lower frame and extending upwardly through openings in the upper frame, as previously described.

The hoisting and transporting device of the present invention provides a convenient means for quickly and easily hoisting heavy or cumbersome pieces of furniture to an elevated position not only for shifting and transportation thereof but for convenient elevational adaptation to desired use or comfort of the user. The device is simple, economical and dependable. It possesses commercial advantage as an independent article of sale or in combination with pieces of furniture in which it is embodied.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and structures.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevating and transporting device for furniture comprising a frame adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position in the furniture, a base member horizontally positioned below the frame, means interconnecting the frame and the base member for controlled spacial positioning, means slidably interconnecting the base member and the frame and constraining the same to predetermined relative attitudes during spacial positioning thereof, and floor engaging means mounted on the base member for floor engagement and furniture support in response to controlled spacial positioning of the frame and the base member.

2. An elevating and transporting device for furniture comprising a rigid frame adapted to be fixedly mounted in a piece of furniture in substantially horizontal position, a substantially horizontal base member positioned below the frame, screw threaded means interconnecting the frame and the base member for controlled relative elevational positioning, an aligning pin radially spaced from the screw threaded means and slidably interconnecting the frame and the base member and constraining said frame and base member to predetermined relative rotational positions, and casters swivelly mounted on the base member for floor engagement and elevational support of the furniture in response to spacing of the frame and base member by manipulation of the screw-threaded means,

3. The combination of a piece of furniture having a framework including a substantially rectangular, horizontal, open base, a plurality of springs mounted on the base, and a cushion overlaying the springs; a rigid frame fixedly mounted within the base of the framework of the furniture in a substantially horizontal attitude; at base member positioned below the rigid frame in substantially parallel relation thereto; screw threaded means interconnecting the rigid frame and the base member for controlled relative elevational positioning, said screw threaded means extending upwardly through the springs to a position accessible from thereabove upon the removal of the cushion; erect aligning pins slidably interconnecting the base member and the frame resistive to relative rotational movement of said frame and member; and casters swivelly mounted in depending relation on the base member for alternate furniture support by floor engagement and. retraction into the base of the furniture framework.

4. A furniture elevating and transporting device comprising a rigid H frame adapted for connecti-on in substantially horizontal attitude to an article to be supported, a substantially rectangular base member positioned below the frame in substantially parallel relation thereto, a substantially erect screw-threaded member journaled centrally in the base member and screw-threadedly engaged in the frame, said screw threaded member extendin upwardly from the frame, aligning pins rigidly mounted on the base member in substantialiy erect positions and slidably engaged in openings formed in the frame, a caster swivelly mounted adjacent each corner of the base member in depending position for engagement with a supporting surface.

WILLIAM PIVOVAROFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 146,997 Eddy Feb. 3, 1874 750,612 Crofut Jan. 26, 1904 

